DiscussMormonism.com

This is based on a response to a question at MAD...


What is a testimony and how is it developed?

A testimony is a statement of your beliefs. Most people have beliefs even if they are not developed enough for any stated expression of them. To use the metaphor of a mine, you need to dig for these beliefs and once you have found various nuggets of wisdom to which you can agree, you need to then refine them so they are cut and polished to suit you. Perhaps sitting down with a pen and paper or by hammering away at the keyboard, you can start to put together a list of ideas from which you can begin this refining process.

For the refining process, two methods people sometimes use are:

1. Burning in the Bosom - You pray and ponder on a subject and if you get a warm and comfortable feeling, then it must be true or useful.

2. The Wisdom of the Kamala Suta: "Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.'
... when you yourselves know: 'These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness,' enter on and abide in them."

Either of these methods can help in refining your beliefs. Just remember, it is always beneficial to you to know what it is you believe in life and why you believe it.

Moksha,

In all the years I've been Mormon, I have never once felt this burning of the bosom when seeking truth. I have felt a stupor of thought, but I also know I have a tendency to be distracted and absent minded. For this reason, I've don't put much credence in the burning/stupor method - it never worked for me.

Anyone out there actually felt this burning? I had sought for this event for years.

However, I have felt an inner peace (and the absence of chaos and anxiety), flashes of future events based on potential poor decision and words/concepts that have flowed while conveying spiritual messages to others. Because so many of these experiences mingled with concepts that do not have their grounding in truth they have caused me to begin to re-evaluate these events.

Inconceivable wrote:Moksha,

In all the years I've been Mormon, I have never once felt this burning of the bosom when seeking truth. I have felt a stupor of thought, but I also know I have a tendency to be distracted and absent minded. For this reason, I've don't put much credence in the burning/stupor method - it never worked for me.

Anyone out there actually felt this burning? I had sought for this event for years.

However, I have felt an inner peace (and the absence of chaos and anxiety), flashes of future events based on potential poor decision and words/concepts that have flowed while conveying spiritual messages to others. Because so many of these experiences mingled with concepts that do not have their grounding in truth they have caused me to begin to re-evaluate these events.

I've felt the burning bosom -- the first time I took Extacy. The entire roll felt just like people describe their spiritual events.

But it didn't really reveal any truth to me. It did allow me to explore my mind in places I normally wouldn't go, but the feeling was never a feeling of truth, more a feeling that I'd be okay with whatever truth I did find.

When something reveals itself as truth to me, it usually comes in what I call a "click moment," where all the gears of thought just click together, and start working so perfectly and in harmony that it's almost as if I'm not thinking at all. These little moments of zen don't usually have a feeling of any kind attached to them. Rather, it's the absense of feeling. I'm not anxious, excited, fearful, in awe, or anything. It just... Is.

My face got hot a few times -- "a burning of the visage" (5 Nephi 2:2)

I'm not kidding. (Well, about the 2:2 I am.)

But I didn't learn anything, and wasn't being tested. I think I was just with some high-up guys, and maybe I felt like what they were saying pertained specifically to me. I don't recall if I've had that burning of the visage confirmation since about 25 years of age. . . . .

Maybe burning boosoms is like that? People have told me they have "felt good" when they were hearing something new, and that's how they knew it was true. The Sixth Scientific Method, perhaps.

Those who said they had a "warm feeling" in their chest denied it was really burning. But if it's just warm, and doesn't really hurt a bit, how can you say it's a "burning" in the boosom? When I pressed the few who stuck with "burning" or "warm" boosom," they finally admitted it was a "comfortable" feeling, emotionally not physically "warm".

The way I know something is true is not to experience a corporal temperature change, but a cerebral photonic (enlightenment) change. To believe a new thing, it has to agree with old things, not disagree with anything else that is obviously factual.

I'm not sure there is "anything new under the sun." I wonder if future knowledge will be expanding what we already know, rather than discovering an entirely new truth.

... regurgitated crap that people feel compelled to find bacause the church says so. OMH Did I JUST say THAT???? Harharrrr. I am an active Mormon whom one might say constantly has stupors of thought concerning religion. When people say it is the spirit I am feeling I am like what... NO IT'S NOT!!! It's nerves. I only get it when thinking I should go up and bear what I think is a testimony. Not any other time.

I felt the real spirit before re - activating. And that was due to NO religion at all. That was due to contentment and not worrying about going to HELL all the time. Especially since hell does not exist.

I've had the burning. Though it isn't limited to bosom, usually travels around my torso and upper arms. I can call on it at a moment's notice unless I've chased the spirit away. I've grown used to it but it's kind of like having something scamper around inside of me.

I'm not sure if this easy of a reassurance is a gift for me because of something I've done or a crutch because I'm spiritually weak and need it. I think it's both.

I really must be more liberal than I thought because this sounds so rediculous. But tomorow when I have slept I will believe you.

Oh, well yes, the arms and all. I do get that! My face, shoulders, arms, sometimes more. When I take my niaspan medication. I hadn't reallized it also provided a spiritual healing. That is so cool. I mean, that is so burning.

Would it be safe to say that method #2 is much less controversial?

Valorius wrote:Oh, well yes, the arms and all. I do get that! My face, shoulders, arms, sometimes more. When I take my niaspan medication. I hadn't reallized it also provided a spiritual healing. That is so cool. I mean, that is so burning.

Ummmm.....okay.

If you find it spiritually healing go for it.